Vending machine



C. M. WEEKS VENDINGMAGHINE oro " iig-2 OO Filed Sept.

lllllllllllllll l CHA jig@

eL/f5 M weeks Patented July 3, 1934 UNTED STATES PATENT CFFICE VENDING MACHINE Charles M. Weeks, Chevy Chase, Md.

Application September 14, 1933, Serial No. 689,47 6

11 Ciaims. (Cl. 31a-94) The present invention relates to vending machines for vending magazines, newspapers and other articles that may be dispensed from a man,chine of this character, and held suspended in the machine and released under coin-controlled mechanism.

1lhe primary object of my invention for vending magazines, newspapers and other similar articles is the provision of a plurality of gripping members arranged in rows in staggered relation or in line for holding articles of various thicknesses to be sold and held in a suspended position in the machine, from which position they are dispensed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel operating mechanism constructed as a unit and readily removable from the housing in which it is contained for repairs and the like.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel means for preventing delivery of the article, unless the exact amount required for p rchase of the article is deposited in the coin receiving portion.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel mechanism for releasing the articles from the depending gripping means.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel mechanism for the delivery of articles, one in which the operation of the mechanism is automatic after the coin receiving portion is operated, thus relieving the purchaser of manually completing the delivery operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more specically claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a iront elevational view illustrating my machine, the operating mechanism being housed in the top portion thereof.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the operating mechanism.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking A in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the gripping members arranged in pairs, the back row of gripping members being in staggered relation to the front row of gripping members, the pegs on the cylinder being omitted for clarity.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the position the cam arm and the release latch arm assume at delivery of the article, other parts of the machine being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 Figure 4, the mechanism superimposed upon the frame being omitted.

Figure '7 is a front elevational view of a pair of the gripping ngers in open position, the spreading transverse bar and the position of the vertical arm contacting one of the pegs or abutments on the cylinder, parts being shown broken away and fragmentary.

Figure 8 is an elevational View of another form of gripping member mounted on the frame, parts being shown fragmentarily.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 5 represents a housing of any suitable configuration and formed of any suitable metal, having the lower portion of the back wall slightly curved (not shown in the drawing) forming a chute for articles dispensed to the chute opening 6, which opening is provided with an upstanding flange '7 to prevent the dispensed article from falling from the machine. Midway the ends of the ilange 7 is a cutout portion 8 providing a means for gripping the dispensed article for removal of the article from the machine. The housing 5 is provided with a hinged top 9 having depending anges 10 which protect the interior of the housing and articles therein against the elements of the weather, the hinged top further providing a means for rilling the vending mechanism with the articles to be vended. The top 9 carries a hasp 1l for locking the top after the vending mechanism has been loaded with the articles to be dispensed, thus preventing access to the interior of the housing.

The housing is further provided with a window l2 centrally located in the front wall thereof, providing a means of ascertaining whether the housing is supplied with articles to be vended. Superimposed upon the top 9 is a reduced housing 13 and if desired this reduced housing may be integral with the top 9. The reduced housing 13, houses the vending mechanism and coin box (not shown in Figure 1) and it is also provided with a hinged cover la and a hasp 15 for securely locking the mechanism and money therein from unwarranted removal.

The vending mechanism comprises a frame 16 which may be unitary, stamped, molded or otherwise formed. However in the present instance 1 have illustrated the frame as composed of a plurality of parts comprising end members 17 and 18, each being provided with a cutout portion 19 for the reception of the longitudinal plate member 20 secured thereto in any suitable manner.

To the bottom face of the plate member 20 centrally thereof is secured a longitudinal bar member 21 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 and 23 in pairs on each longitudinal side face, the apertures on each face being in staggered relation to the opposite face respectively. To the side edges of the plate member 2G are secured in any suitable manner, side members 24 and 25 each side member being provided with a plurality of apertures 26 and 27 in pairs, and these apertures 26 and 27 are in line with the apertures 22 and 23 in the bar member 21, the ends of the side members impinging against the inner wall faces of the end members 17 and 18. By the formation of these parts namely the plate member 20, the bar member 2l and the side members 24 and 25, channel ways 28 and 29 are formed for a purpose to be later described.

On the front vertical edge 30 of each of the end members 17 and 18 at the base thereof is mounted in any suitable manner a longitudinal angle bar 31 provided with a plurality of apertures 32 in spaced relation. A companion longitudinal angle bar 33 provided with a plurality of apertures in spaced relation and in line with the apertures 32 in the angle bar 3l, has its base 34 mounted to the base of each of the end members 17 and 18 and adjacent to the rear edge of said members.

Rotatably mounted between the end members 17 and 18 is a cylinder 35 having on its peripheral face a plurality of pegs or abutments 36 arranged spirally thereon and in spaced relation to each other. On one end of the cylinder 35 and securely fastened thereto in any suitable manner is a ratchet wheel 37.

A plurality of gripping means 38 arranged in pairs, comprising ngers 39 and 40 are pivotally mounted in the apertures 26 and 27 in the side members 24 and 25 and in the apertures 22 and 23 in the longitudinal bar member 21, the heads of the ngers 39 and 40 being housed in the channel ways 28 and 29. It is to be noted from the illustration in Figure 4 of the drawing that due to the arrangement of the apertures in the side members 24 and 25 and the apertures in the bar members 21, that each pair of gripping means in the channel way 29 are in staggered relation to the gripping means in the channel way 28, and that each pair of gripping means in the channel Way 29 are positioned midway each pair of gripping means in the channel way 28. By this arrangement I provide a clearance between the front and rear row of gripping means thus avoiding a possible fouling of the article during its delivery operation.

` All of the gripping means extend downwardly from the pivotal points below the angle bars 3l and 33 an appreciable distance. Each pair of gripping means is provided with a spring tension means 4,1 for normally holding the gripping means in closed position. The ends of the spring means 41 pass through apertures in the respective depending fingers 39 and 40 and are secured in any suitable manner. In the present showing, I have illustrated the ends of the spring secured to pins 42. The gripping members, arranged in pairs as illustrated and enumerated, have the greater portion of their length in vertical spaced relation to each other and extend an appreciable distance below the angle bars 3l and 33, and as indicated at 43 each of the depending fingers 39 and 40 is bent inwardly and extends to a point 44 at which point each ares outwardly to the bottom forming a V-shaped opening 45 in each pair of gripping means which provides a mouth for the insertion of articles to be held in sus-f pended position in the gripping members at the apex of the mouth 45 where the fingers 39 and 40 impinge each other on the inner walls at 44,

By forming the lower portions of the depending members into a V-shape or substantially V- shape configuration, a positive gripping means is provided which will hold the articles placed therein and held in suspended position until released.

Mounted pivotally between the angle bars 31 and 33 in the apertures 32 in the angle bars are transverse members 46. To one end of the transverse members 46 on one face thereof is mounted an arm 47 at right angles to said transverse member and this arm is secured to the transverse members in any suitable manner. The upper portion of the arm 47 is bent at an angle thereto, as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing, and these arms are in line and are positioned in the space 48 between the side face of the side member 25 and the rotatable cylinder 35, the top of the arm 47 being uniplanar with the top face of the plate member 20. As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the apertures in the angle bar member 31 and the angle bar member 33 are positioned therein, mid-way between each pair of iingers 39 and 40, the transverse members being mounted therein for a purpose to be later described.

Superimposed upon the plate member 20 is a plate 49 provided with track slots 50, in which track slots 50 is slidably mounted a coin slide 51 provided with coin receiving apertures 52. On the upper face of the coin slide is mounted a plate member 53, having elongated arms 54 and 55, the ends of the arms being bent upwardly at right angles thereto and each provided with a groove 56. The plate member 49 on each track edge has mounted thereon angle brackets 57 and between these brackets is mounted a rod 57a having stop dogs 58 mounted thereon and freely movable, the dogs being held in spaced relation by sleeves 59 fitted on the rod 57a and interposed between the angle brackets 57 and the stop dogs 58 and between the stop dogs in spaced relation, the stop dogs being in central alignment with the coin receiving apertures 52 for a purpose to be later described.

A cam arm 60 is pivotally mounted on the plate 49 at 61 and this arm is provided with a notch 62 and a slot 63, of substantially V-shape configuration which receives a cam pin 64 secured to the coin slide 51. On the outer face of the end member 17 is mounted a post 65 on the top end of which is pivotally mounted at 66 one end of a trip lever 67, having a cut-out portion 68, an angularly disposed end edge 69 and a lip 70, the cutout portion 68 of the trip lever 67 engaging a pin 71 secured to the plate member 63. Pivotally connected to the trip lever 67 at 72 is a pawl 73 having one end curved and this end engages the ratchet wheel 37. The pawl is provided with a stop pin 74 for preventing the pawl from becoming disengaged from the ratchet wheel. To the outer face of the end member 17 is also secured a bracket 75 having one end 76 bent at right angles thereto and carrying a stop pin 77 for limiting movement of the pawl 73.

As illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the cam arm adjacent the pivotal point 6l has a spring 78 connected thereto, the other end of the l end a spring 80, the other end of the spring being secured to the groove 56 in the right angular portion of the elongated arm 55. This spring means keeps the release latch in engagement with the cam arm when the cam arm is in its normal position as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the spring acting as a means for operating the trip latch and the pawl when in operating position. The arm 54 of the plate member 53 has a spring 81 one end of which is connected to the right angular portion 56 of the arm, the other end of the spring being connected to one of the sleeves 59 on the rod 57a. In the normal position of the operating mechanism this spring 8l is in a contracted position.

In Figures 8 and 9 a modified form of gripping member is illustrated, and this member comprises a unitary structure and it is made of a resilient material, comprising an annular head 82, vertical ngers 83 and 84 in vertical spaced relation, the lower ends of the ngers 85 and 86 are curved inwardly and impinge each other at 87 providing a gripping means at this point. The gripping member is mounted to the longitudinal bar member 2l by a screw 88, and interposed between the screw and the inner peripheral wall of the annular head or the gripping means is a bushing 89. By using this form of depending member the cost of production of the operating mechanism is reduced to a minimum.

In the operation or my device, the money is deposited in the coin receiving apertures 52 in the coin slide 51, the slide is then pushed inwardly and during the inward movement of the coin slide, the apertures 52 having coins therein, the top of the coins being uniplanar with the top face of the coin slide 5l allow the stop dogs 58 to slide over the coin without interference to the inward movement of the slide. During the inward movement of the coin slide the cam pin 64 enters the cam slot 63 and due to the V- shape configuration of the cam slot, the cam arm is forced to the right, the spring member 78 expanding with the movement of the cam arm. As the cam pin 64 travels towards the apex of the cam slot 63, the notch 62 in the cam arm is gradually forced from engagement with the edge 69 of the trip lever arm 67. When the cam pin reaches the apex of the cam slot 63 two movements take place. The spring members '78 and 80 at this point are both in an expanded position, the spring 80 secured to the trip lever when the trip lever arm is released, contracts, and during its contracting movement forces the pawl forward which rotates the cylinder through the medium of the ratchet wheel 37, the ratchet wheel being rotated one notch in an anti-clockwise manner. During the rotation of the cylinder one notch one of the pins 36 contacts the angular portion of one of the vertical arms 4'7 forcing the arm to the right. This movement causes the transverse bar 46 to assume an angular position which position impinges the opposite top and side edges of the bar member against the inner walls of the depending fingers 39 and 40 spreading the fingers apart and releasing the article held therebetween, as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawing. Figure 5 of the drawing illustrates the position of the cam arm and the lever latch arm at the discharge point of the article from the iingers. During the delivery operation the spring member 8l is still in an eX- panded position and when delivery of the article has been completed this spring member 81 contracts drawing the coin slide to its normal operative position, the latch lever and cam arm during this movement assuming their normal position ready when actuated to deliver an article from the next pair of gripping members. If the proper amount of money is not deposited in the coin receiving apertures 52, the coin slide as it is pushed inwardly is prevented from discharging an article through the medium of operation of the mechanism by the stop dogs that engage the coin receiving apertures and impinge against the inner peripheral wall of the apertures.

I am aware that numerous changes will, in View of the teachings of my invention, as herein illustrated, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains and I reserve the right to any such changes as fall within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:-

l. A vending machine including depending article gripping means, means coacting with the gripping means to release articles from the latter, and further means including a rotatable means equipped with staggered arranged means engaging said releasing means for vending the articles carried by the gripping means.

2. A vending machine including depending article gripping means, means coacting with the gripping means to release articles from the latter, further means including a rotatable means equipped with staggered arranged means engaging said releasing means for vending articles carried by the gripping means, means including an operating means coacting with the said rotatable means for rotating same.

3. A Vending machine including article gripping means, means coacting with the gripping means to release articles from the latter, further means including a rotatable means equipped with staggered arranged means, means on one end of said rotatable means, and further means including a pivotal member, a trip member, means engaging said trip member coacting with said means on one end of said rotatable means for rotating the same, said staggered arranged means engaging said releasing means for vending articles carried by the gripping means.

4. A vending machine including article gripping means, means coacting with the gripping means to release articles from the latter, further means including a rotatable means equipped with staggered arranged means, means on one end of said rotatable means for rotation of the latter, further means including a iiXed means having operating means pivotally mounted thereon to engage said means on one end of said rotatable means for actuating said rotatable means, means normally holding said operating means in inoperative position, said iixed means equipped with grooves, a movable means engaged in said grooves and equipped with a means for engaging said holding means, a bracket on said movable means having lateral arms, tension means secured to said arms, one of said tension mea-ns, connected to said operating means, said staggered arranged means engaging said releasing means for vending articles carried by the gripping means.

5. A vending machine including article gripping means, means coacting with the gripping means to release the articles from the latter, a further means including a rotatable means equipped with staggered arranged means, means on one end of said rotatable means for actuating said rotatable means, further means including a plate having operating means pivotally mounted thereon, another operating means pivotally mounted adjacent said plate equipped with a pivotally connected means coacting with the means on one end of said rotatable means, said rst named operating means equipped with means engaging the other of said operating means for locking engagement therewith, said plate having grooves therein, a movable means in said grooves and equipped with a means for engaging one of said operating means, a bracket on said movable means having lateral arms, a transverse member mounted on said plate, tension means connected to one of said lateral arms and to one of said operating means, the other of said arms of said rotatable means, further means including a plate member, a trip member pivotally mounted on said plate member, a cam member pivotally mounted on said plate member and engageable with said trip member, means engaging said means on one end of said rotatable member for actuating same, said last named means being actuated by said trip member, said staggered arranged means engaging said releasing means for vending articles carried by the gripping means, and means coacting with the said cam member for releasing said trip and actuating said rotatable means.

7. A vending machine including article gripping means, means coacting with the gripping means including a transverse bar equipped with an arm member to release articles from the gripping means, a further means including a rotatable means equipped with staggered arrangedmeans, means on one end of said rotatable means for actuating said rotatable means, further means including a plate having operating means pivotally mounted thereon, another operating means pivotally mounted adjacent said plate equipped with a pivotally connected means coacting with the means on one end of said rotatable means, said rst named operating means equipped with means engaging the other of said operating means for locking engagement therewith, said plate having grooves therein, a movable means in said grooves and equipped with a means for engaging one of said operating means, a bracket on said movable means having lateral arms, a transverse member on said plate, tension means connected to one of said lateral arms and to one of said operating means, the other of said arms having tension means connected thereto and to the transverse means, said staggered arranged means engaging said releasing means for vending articles carried by the gripping means.

8. A vending machine including a frame, a plurality of depending article gripping means mounted in said frame, a plurality of transverse means equipped each withan arm on one end mounted in said frame, one of said transverse means interposed between each of said gripping means, a rotatable cylinder equipped with a ratchet wheel on one end and mounted in said frame, said cylinder equipped with spirally arranged abutments, said abutments adapted to en-I gage said arms in sequence as said cylinder is rotated, and means coacting with said ratchet wheel to rotate the cylinder.

9. A vending machine including a frame, a plurality of depending article` gripping means mounted in said frame, a plurality of transverse means equipped each with an arm on one -end mounted in said frame, one of said transverse means interposed between each of said gripping means, a rotatable cylinder equipped with a ratchet wheel on one end thereof mounted in said frame, spirally arranged abutments on said cylinder, a plate member mounted in said frame, a trip member pivotally mounted on said plate, a cam member pivotally mounted on said plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on said trip member and engageable with said ratchet Wheel, said cam member provided with a notch for locking engagement with said trip member, said plate member having grooves, a slide mounted in said grooves, a pin on said slide engageable with said cam, a bracket having a pair of lateral arms mounted on said slide, a transverse bar mounted on said plate, a spring connected to one end of said lateral arms, the other end of said spring connected to said trip member, another spring connected to one end or" the other lateral arm, the other end of said spring connected to the transverse bar on said plate, each of said spirally arranged abutments adapted to engage one of said arms on said transverse members for releasing articles carried by the associated depending gripping means.

1G, A Vendingmachine including a frame, a depending article gripping means mounted in said frame, a transverse means equipped with an arm on one end mounted in said frame, said transverse means interposed between said gripping means, a rotatable cylinder equipped with a ratchet wheel on one end thereof mounted in said frame, said cylinder equipped with an abutment, said abutment adapted to engage said arm, as said cylinder is rotated and means coacting with said ratchet wheel to rotate the cylinder.

ll. A vending machine including a frame, a depending article gripping means mounted in said frame, a transverse means equipped with an arm on one end mounted in said frame, said transverse means interposed between said gripping means, a rotatable cylinder equipped with a ratchet wheel on one end thereof mounted in said frame, an abutment on said cylinder, a plate member mounted on said frame, a trip member pivotally mounted on said plate, a cam member pivotally mounted on said plate, a pawl pivotally mounted on said trip member and engageable with said ratchet wheel, said cam member being provided with a notch for locking engagement with said trip member, said plate member having grooves, a slide mounted in said grooves, a pin on said slide engageable with said cam, a bracket having a pair of lateral arms mounted on said slide, a transverse bar mounted on said plate, a spring connected toone end of o'ne of said lateral arms, the other end of said spring connected to said trip member, another spring connected to one end of the other lateral arm, the other end of said spring connected to the transverse bar on said plate, said abutment adapted to engage said arm on the transverse member for releasing an article carried by the depending gripping means.

CHARLES M. WEEKS, 

